Fat Girl Finishing School by Rachel Wiley

Personally, I'm not one for poetry. It was never a strength of mine when at school, as it was hard to decipher what could be seen as being metaphorical to the literal meaning. But I really wanted to try something new on this occasion.

I fell in love with this cover and when I looked at the description of body positivity and feminism, I was entranced into this new world I never have really wanted to step into before.

Fat Girl Finishing School is composed of several poems talking all about the fear of being in a public place and being ridiculed for your weight, to the idols that Wiley has come to love even from the beginning of her childhood, where there was not as much positivity for women of certain bodies. It is also a very personal piece allowing for us all to get to know what really is most important to Wiley and how she has the opinions that she does and how they have come to formulate together. Which is quite fascinating to see.

There is one particular poem that I have come to love quite a lot: 10 Honest Thoughts on Being Loved by a Skinny Boy. This particular piece feels as though it is more personal than most of the poems in this book - raw and vulnerable. Very similar to many people who have familiar thoughts of the same capacity. Even I felt something in this piece that is even relatable to myself, even though I am a person who likes to keep these types of feelings under lock and key. But society doesn't have to do this to us. Put us down, shove us to the floor like we are nothing because we aren't a model on the front cover of Vogue (as much as it feels like we should). We all have to come to terms, that no matter our sizes there is always someone out there who would love you. But first you have to look at yourself and see that you matter and you are loveable.

The only main upset that I have from this book is it would have been lovely to see these poems being performed. So, I guess that it is not really much of a negative. When reading the poems they do give some impact, there were many times where I just audibly said out loud "wow" and completely in awe how Wiley is able to compose the English language in a way that works for her narrative. There may be some times, although I am not always willing to admit, is how she speaks very close to home. Especially to myself, as someone who is seen to not be as traditional a person in society that people hope. This is what makes these poems special, as it speaks to more than one person, no matter the form in which it has been received by the audience.

My rating today is four stars.

Have you read this book or anything by Rachel Wiley? What are your thoughts on poetry? What is your favourite poem? Join the discussion in the comments!

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